Regal Lily (リーガルリリー) is a three-member female band from Tokyo, Japan. Influ… Read Full Bio ↴Regal Lily (リーガルリリー) is a three-member female band from Tokyo, Japan. Influenced by romanticism and existential literature from the likes of Shuntaro Tanikawa and Kenji Miyazawa, Regal Lily describes their music as "fragile" with a "whirlpool of sound". Their songs are a mix of shoegaze-pop combined with powerful guitar distortions and chaotic drumming. Lead singer Honoka has listed My Bloody Valentine and Shonen Knife as her musical inspirations.
The band formed in 2014 when vocalist-guitarist Honoka Takahashi met drummer Yukiyama while in high school. The girls performed at small shows and festivals at the time before gaining a small following after winning second place for their music at the 2015 Mikakunin Festival competition for teen rock bands. They competed against more than 3,000 other bands for this award, and had their music judged by a panel that included notable musicians Junji Ishiwatari from Supercar and Toru Hidaka from BEAT CRUSADERS. Bassist Umi, who played supporting bass since 2017, officially joined the band in 2018.
Regal Lily quickly gained fame with their unique sound and shy stage presence. They performed at SXSW in 2019 for the official Japan Nite showcase, attracting many international fans. They have continued gaining fame since then, with some of their songs appearing in Japanese media. Their single "ハナヒカリ" ("Hanahikari") was featured in the "Flowers of Evil" (orig. 惡の華/Aku no Hana) live-action movie, released in 2019. The music video for their February 2020 song "ハンシー" ("Hansie") featured up-and-coming actress Sakurako Konishi, and was chosen as a commercial jingle for the Bank of Iwate on April 2020.

Band Members
Vocalist/Guitarist - Honoka Takahashi, born December 10, 1997Drummer - Yukiyama, born October 24, 1997Bassist - Umi, born July 2, 1998Former bassist - Haruka Shiraishi played as bassist for Regal Lily since 2014, but had to leave the band due to health issues; in 2018 she joined the band メレ (Mele)

Social Media:
Official Band Site (JP): http://www.office-augusta.com/regallily
Official Band Instagram
Official Twitter
Honoka's Twitter
Umi's Twitter
Yukiyama's Twitter

Vertigo
Regal Lily Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

明日にそっぽ向くような高い空白い星
今日に涙を混ぜる丸い海映る月のように

風が道路に桜を走らせ横目に
数え切れないダンスのかけらと一緒に歩く

チクタクチクタクまやくのように
うずくまる五つを受け入れたまま

チクタクチクタクまやくのように
うずくまる私のこのからだに人はいないいないいないいない
いないいないいないいないいないいないいないいない

風にたばこの煙を食べさせため息
光を隠す君が愛しくて笑えなかった

チクタクチクタクまやくのように
うずくまる五つを受け入れたまま
チクタクチクタクまやくのように

うずくまる私のこのからだに君はいないいないいないいない
いないいないいないいないいないいないいないいない

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Regal Lily's song "Vertigo" depicts a longing for someone who is no longer present in the singer's life. The high, clear sky and white stars represent a future that the singer has turned away from. The round sea with tears mixed in and the moon reflected in it is an image of the present, filled with sadness. The wind blowing cherry blossoms across the road and countless fragments of dance that the singer walks with represent memories of the past, perhaps with the person the singer is longing for.

The repeated phrase "チクタクチクタク (tik-tok tik-tok) まやくのように (like a mist)" creates a sense of time passing by, and the image of the singer curling up in pain with the five senses intact suggests that the memories of the past and the pain of missing someone are still present in the singer's mind and body. The smoke of the cigarette eaten by the wind and the light hidden by the beloved person imply that the singer is still unable to let go of the past.

Overall, the lyrics of "Vertigo" convey a deep sense of heartache and longing for someone who is no longer present in the singer's life, while also portraying a complex mix of nostalgia, pain, and hope.

Line by Line Meaning

明日にそっぽ向くような高い空白い星
A high sky that seems to turn away from tomorrow, with white stars.

今日に涙を混ぜる丸い海映る月のように
A round sea that mixes tears with today, like a reflected moon.

風が道路に桜を走らせ横目に
The wind runs cherry blossoms down the road, sideways.

数え切れないダンスのかけらと一緒に歩く
Together with countless shards of dance, we walk.

チクタクチクタクまやくのように
Tick-tock, tick-tock, like a veil.

うずくまる五つを受け入れたまま
Remains hunched over and accept the five.

チクタクチクタクまやくのように
Tick-tock, tick-tock, like a veil.

うずくまる私のこのからだに人はいないいないいないいないいないいないいないいない
No one exists in my hunched body. Not one person.

風にたばこの煙を食べさせため息
The wind eats cigarette smoke, along with a sigh.

光を隠す君が愛しくて笑えなかった
I couldn't smile because I was in love with you, who hides the light.

チクタクチクタクまやくのように
Tick-tock, tick-tock, like a veil.